RICHARD DAVIES'S appeal against the murder conviction is being handled by Michael Mansfield QC, who has made his name in several miscarriage of justice cases.

RICHARD DAVIES'S appeal against the murder conviction is being handled by Michael Mansfield QC, who has made his name in several miscarriage of justice cases.

At the Court of Appeal in London last week he was allowed to press ahead with a legal challenge to his client's conviction by a panel of judges. The outcome is expected later this year.

Mr Mansfield argued that the judge in the Swansea Crown Court trial wrongly "invited" the jury in the case to treat Davies's initial lies to investigating police as evidence of his guilt.

The barrister said, "In a case where there were admitted lies, it was necessary for the trial judge to direct the jury that such lies were irrelevant.

"Such lies could not assist the jury in deciding between murder and manslaughter."

Mr Mansfield added there was "ample factual basis" for the jury to bring in a verdict of manslaughter because Alan Sinfield who helped dispose of the body had told "numerous lies" to the police investigating the murder.